NATIONAL—American Archaeology was honored this spring with a Presidential Recognition Award from the Society for American Archaeology, a distinction presented at the organization’s 91st Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The award recognized the magazine’s “outstanding contributions to archaeology” and its long-standing commitment to exploring the “details, nuances, assumptions, and complexities” that underlie archaeological headlines.
The SAA Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of archaeologists in the Americas, bringing together researchers, students, cultural resource professionals, tribal representatives, publishers, and preservation advocates for scholarly sessions, workshops, posters, networking events, and awards recognizing significant contributions to the field.
In a February letter announcing the honor, SAA President Christopher D. Dore wrote that the award was intended to recognize American Archaeology for consistently bringing thoughtfulness, depth, and clarity to its coverage. He described the recognition as one way for the organization to express its appreciation for the magazine’s work, which was presented during the SAA Annual Business Meeting and Awards Presentation on May 1, 2026.
For American Archaeology, the honor marked a meaningful acknowledgment of the magazine’s mission: to make archaeology accessible to a broad public audience while conveying the care, complexity, and importance of research and preservation across North America.
Pictured: SAA President Christopher Dore awards American Archaeology Art Director Vicki Singer and Editor Tracy Loe, who accepted the award on behalf of the magazine and The Archaeological Conservancy.
